Calculating Component Vectors - Learn How

[lovemake1]

Hello, I am slightly confused with component vectors.

if I am trying to add two vectors, which are 33m/s [W33E] and 53m/s [N54W] i have to
break them down into x and y component.
i can get them by using cos and sin.

but there are some occasions where I am not sure if the degree I am using is correct.

for example for 33m/s the xcomponent would be 33cos33 and ycompoent would be 33sin33.

when do we ever use 33cos-33 ? beacuse i know there are some occasions where negative angle is neccesary or even (180-33) obtuse angle to find the component.

please could anyone clarify this for me thanks,

 

[mikeph]

I don't understand your notation [W33E]... are they something to do with the compass points?

 

[h4tt3n]

To add two or more vectors, just add their x and y components respectively. Simple as that. Your notation seems odd, though.

 

[Mark44]

Your [W33E] notation is incorrect. The other heading, [N54W], means 54 degrees west of north. The first one should probably be either N33E or S33E.

 

[LCKurtz]

when do we ever use 33cos-33 ? beacuse i know there are some occasions where negative angle is neccesary or even (180-33) obtuse angle to find the component.

please could anyone clarify this for me thanks,

Draw the vector with its tail at the origin. Then draw a polar coordinate angle from the positive x-axis to the vector. It doesn't matter whether you go counterclockwise with a positive $\theta$ or clockwise with a negative $\theta$. Do whichever seems more natural for the vector you are considering. In either case you will get $x = r\cos\theta,\ y = r\sin\theta$.